Iraq Denies Secret Military Bases in Najaf Desert

No unknown military installations or movements exist in the Najaf desert, Iraq's Defense Ministry declared Tuesday, dismissing what it called "rumors" circulated by certain media platforms and social media pages. The ministry's statement, carried by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), came after a field tour by security forces inspected the area's security situation and verified the validity of online claims.

The Najaf desert remains under complete surveillance and control by Iraqi forces, with all zones secured according to approved military and intelligence plans, the ministry affirmed. The denial follows a Wall Street Journal report citing informed sources, including U.S. officials, which alleged that Israel had previously established a secret military base in the Iraqi desert to support its air operations against Iran. According to the newspaper, the base housed special forces and served as a logistics hub for the Israeli Air Force, constructed before the outbreak of the war with U.S. knowledge.

Security Sweep and Denials

In a related development, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) announced the launch of a military operation dubbed "Imposing Sovereignty" in the deserts of Najaf and Karbala provinces. The operation aims to secure the road linking Karbala to the Al-Nukhaib area, according to PMF's Middle Euphrates Operations Commander Ali al-Hamdani. He stated the operation was launched along four axes, directed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and supervised by Army Chief of Staff Abdul Amir Yarallah.

Participating forces are conducting search and sweep operations reaching a depth of 70 kilometers, following what al-Hamdani described as "tight" and "highly professional" military plans.